Electoral College Update as Republican Blocks Plan to Give Trump Extra Vote

A Nebraska GOP legislator blocked Republicans’ plan to secure former President Donald Trump an extra vote in the Electoral College.
Nebraska, alongside Maine, is one of two states to split its Electoral College—the statewide winner earns two votes, and each candidate gets one per Congressional district they carry. But as Election Day inches closer, Republicans in the state have pushed for a winner-takes-all system. Nebraska is a solidly Republican state, but Vice President Kamala Harris is viewed as a slight favorite in the purple Omaha-area seat.
If Republicans succeeded in enacting the winner-take-all system, Trump would be essentially guaranteed to win the state’s five Electoral College votes, rather than four. Th difference, however small, could be crucial in an election expected to be decided by razor-thin margins in a handful of battleground states.
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On Monday, State Senator Mike McDonnell delivered a blow to efforts to move to the winner-take-all system, writing in a statement reported by the Nebraska Examiner that he has not been convinced to sway in his initial opposition to the change.
“Elections should be an opportunity for all voters to be heard, no matter who they are, where they live, or what party they support. I have taken time to listen carefully to Nebraskans and national leaders on both sides of the issue. After deep consideration, it is clear to me that right now, 43 days from Election Day, is not the moment to make this change,” he said, the newspaper reported.
Republicans in Nebraska have a majority but do not have the votes to overcome a procedural filibuster. McDonnell was viewed as the crucial swing vote in the matter.
The change would have benefited Trump by increasing the likelihood of a tie. If Harris sweeps the Midwestern and Rust Belt swing states, and Trump wins the Sunbelt and southern swing states, they would be at 269-268 Electoral College votes, with Nebraska’s Second District being the tiebreaker. If current forecasts are accurate, Nebraska’s Second District would likely be Harris’ 270th Electoral College vote, giving her enough to become president.
If Harris were denied that vote, it would result in a tie. In that event, the vote would go to Congress, with each state’s delegation getting one vote. Presently, Republicans control a majority of state delegations, though it’s unclear if this could change in November.
Newsweek reached out to the Trump and Harris campaigns for comment via email.
In theory, Democratic-controlled Maine could also move to a winner-take-all system. But it takes 90 days for laws to go into effect in the Pine Tree State, meaning it is likely too late for lawmakers there to do so.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, a Republican, has said he would call a special session — the second of the year — to change the electoral system, but only if he knows there are enough votes for the proposal to pass.
The last-minute efforts drew national support from Republicans, with South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham traveling to the state to urge support for the change. Trump himself also spoke to at least one state senator, The Washington Post reported last week.
Trump urged Nebraska Republicans to make the change in April, writing on Truth Social: “Most Nebraskans have wanted to go back to this system for a very long time, because it’s what 48 other States do – It’s what the Founders intended, and it’s right for Nebraska.”
McDonnell told the Examiner he told the governor of his decision and suggested the issue should be left to the people Nebraska as a proposed constitutional amendment change they can vote on at the ballot box.